Decking construction with rail members



March 11, 1969 K. D. SCHREYER EI'AL 3,432,147

DECKING CONSTRUCTION WITH RAIL MEMBERS Filed April 5. 1967 m, R) Q) I QINVENTOR. KENNETH o. SCHREYER H [k G a W BY DAVID W MEE L N 0 m) &

A T TOR NE United States Patent DECKING CONSTRUCTION WITH RAIL MEMBERSKenneth D. Schreyer, Doylestown, and David W. Meehl,

Hatboro, Pa., assignors to Standard Pressed Steel (10.,

Jenkiutown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 5, 1967, Ser.No. 628,637

US. Cl. 25659 Int. Cl. E0411 17/14; E04b 1/18 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE The present invention relates, in general, to deckingconstructions and, in particular, to an arrangement wherein a singlestructural member may serve as a combination kick-plate and support fora flooring and handrails.

In double and multiple deck shelving, aisles or walkways are required onthe second and higher levels for access to shelves on these levels. Foran outside aisle or one which has shelves on one side only, the flooringon that side of the aisle opposite from the shelves must be supported bysuitable means. In addition, a kick-plate and handrails must be providedalong this side of such an aisle to prevent individuals from fallingoff.

A major factor in the cost of decking constructions is the cost of rawmaterials. Accordingly, a reduction in the weight and the number of thecomponent parts of such constructions results in a savings in theirmanufacture. In addition, the fewer the component parts, the easier andquicker a decking construction may be assembled or disassembled.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improveddecking construction in which a single structural member serves as acombination kick-plate, flooring support and handrail support. As aresult, three functions are served by this member. In contrast, mostdeckings which are commercially available at the present time employ twoor three parts for these three functions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combinationkick-plate and flooring and handrail support for a decking which isrelatively inexpensive to fabricate.

Briefly, a decking construction according to the present inventionincludes a channel having a pair of flanges joined together by a webwith the web being disposed vertically. A plurality of flooring supportbeams are secured to the channel and extend horizontally from thechannel. Extending across these support beams is a flooring. A pluralityof rail members, secured to the channel, extend vertically upward fromthe channel.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a typical double deck shelving unit in which the presentinvention may be employed; and

FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective views, taken from opposite directions,of a decking construction according to the present invention.

The shelving unit in FIGURE 1 is seen to have shelves 10 and 12 onground level and shelves 14 and 16 on the second level. In order to haveaccess to shelves 14 and 16, a flooring 18 is provided. A staircase 20leads from ground level to the second level.

Flooring 18, in the form of a grating, is supported from kick-plates 22and 23 which extend between posts 24. The kick-plates extend along theoutside edges of the outside aisles on the second level. The kick-platesserve to prevent an individual on the grating 18 from sliding oif of theedge. Extending vertically from the kick-plates 22 and 23 are railmembers 26 which prevent an individual from falling ofi' of the secondlevel.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show in greater detail the arrangement of the kick-plate22, a rail member 26 and the grating 18. The kick-plate is seen to be achannel having a pair of flanges 22a and 22b joined together by a web220. The channel is disposed with web 22c being vertical. Kickplate 22rests upon plates 28 at the tops of posts 24 and is secured to theseplates by U-bolts 30 which extend around the kick-plate and throughplates 28.

Extending horizontally from kick-plate 22 and secured to this kick-plateis a plurality of grating support beams 32, each in the form of achannel. In particular, the webs 320 of channels 32 are positionedagainst the lower flange 22b of kick-plate 22. Channels 32 are securedto the kickplate by U-bolts 34 which extend around the kick-plate andthrough webs 32c. Grating 18 extends across the webs 32c and may besecured to beams 32 by suitable means such as by clips 36. FIGURE 2indicates how web 22c rises above the top of grating 18 to protectagainst an individual slipping off of the edge of the grating.

Rail member 26 also is secured to kick-plate 22 and extends verticallyupward fromthe kick-plate. Specifically, rail member 26 includes twovertical rail posts 26421 and a handrail 26b. The vertical rail postsextend across the free edges of flanges 22a and 22b and are secured tothe kick-plate 22 by U-bolts 38 which extend around the kick plate andthrough the rail posts.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of this invention it will 'be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without departing from the invention and it is, therefore, aimedto cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A decking construction comprising:

a channel having upper and lower flanges joined together by a web, saidchannel disposed with said web being vertical;

a plurality of flooring support beams secured to said channel andextending horizontally firom said lower flange of said channel;

a plurality of flooring members extending across said flooring supportbeams;

and a plurality of rail member secured to said channel and extendingvertically upward from said channel.

2. A decking construction according to claim 1 wherein the flooringmembers are gratings.

3. A decking construction according to claim 1 wherein the flooringsupport beams and the rail members are secured to the channel byU-bolts.

4. A decking construction according to claim 4 wherein Y the railmembers include vertical posts and horizontal handrails and saidvertical posts extend upward across the FOREIGN PATENTS free edges ofthe flanges of the channel. 979 0,81 1950 France 5. A deckingconstruction according to claim 2 wherein 984099 1951 France theflooring support beams are channels. 1351399 1963 France.

References Cited 5 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner. UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,053,462 9/1936 Chaplin 52648 52 263 2,830,509 4/1958 Bustin52l80

